Author(s):

KD Patil, SS More, MR Wahane, UY Puranik and NH Khobragade

Abstract: India is a major producer of horticultural crops growing close to 100 crops. It is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables after China and is an integral part of food and nutritional security. It is an essential component of economic security of the stakeholder. Demand for increasing production, will require a thorough knowledge of the soil factors that regulate the supply and availability of micronutrients in soils. Hi-tech horticulture is a technology which is modern, less environment-dependent and capital intensive but with a capacity to improve productivity and farmers’ income. The stagnation in crop productivity has been found due to deficiency of some micro and secondary nutrients. Hence, micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, B, Mo and Ni) have assumed increasing importance in crop production under modern agriculture. The need for application of micro-nutrients is thus, increasingly felt. At present about 47.0, 11.5, 4.8 and 4.0 per cent of soils are found to be deficient in zinc, iron, copper and manganese, respectively. It is estimated that about 324, 130, 11, 11 and 3.0 thousand tones of zinc, iron, manganese, copper and boron will be required by 2025 AD. In the new era of changing climate, hi-tech horticulture has become necessity so as to sustain productivity and economic stability of the Indian farmers. Hi-tech horticulture is useful not only for production of fruits, vegetables and flowers but also for conservation, plant protection, post-harvest management including value-addition. Hi-tech horticulture relies heavily on judicious application of irrigation and nutrients to horticultural crops. Adoption of drip irrigation has resulted in high yields and better quality in fruits (mango, coconut, arecanut, cashew, banana, grape, papaya, pomegranate and mandarin), vegetables (okra, chilli, tomato, brinjal, coriander, cucumber and watermelon) and cut-flowers (rose, carnation and gerbera). Due to advancement in biotechnology, planting practices and novel fertilizer application techniques, it is necessary to revisit the recommended doses and schedules. The concepts of site specific, orchard-specific, tree specific and phenophase-specific application of nutrients are taking roots in scientific discourse. The present article reviews various aspects of hi-tech horticulture in relation to micronutrients hinting future prospects.

Pages: 628-635  |  1445 Views  470 Downloads

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